Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Overijssel on the east bank of the IJssel river.
Population centres
- Deventer
- Colmschate
- Diepenveen
- Lettele
- Okkenbroek
- Schalkhaar
The city of Deventer
Deventer was probably founded by the English missionary Lebuinus around 768, who built a wooden church on the border of the IJssel. This was not the first human settlement at the location: in Roman age there probably was a stronghold called Daventria in place.
Deventer received city rights in 956. From this date fortifications were built around the city for defense. Between 1000 and 1500, Deventer grew to be a flourishing trade city because of its harbour on the river IJssel, which was reachable for large ships. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League.
Deventer is the birthplace of Geert Groote and home to his Brethren of the Common Life, a school of religious thought that was of great influence on Thomas a Kempis and Erasmus in later times.
